If you or anyone you know needs help:

It's not just physical violence. And not all physical violence is necessarily bullying.

The Australian Psychological Society (APS) says bullying can include hitting, pushing, name calling, deliberately excluding people and teasing.

One way to recognise bullying is when a child often feels scared or hurt when they are around certain children.

Bullying in younger grades is growing, and so is the violence.

Since 2013, more than 4,300 children in Queensland have been suspended or excluded from Prep and almost 9,000 have been forced to go home while in Year One.

Across Australia there are more than half-a-million bullies in classrooms who deliver more than 45 million incidents of abuse or intimidation every year.

For the 910,000 students who are targets of bullies, it adds up to more than one incident for every week they are in school.

How do I help my child if they are a bully?

Set boundaries and follow through. That's the first step.

The APS has eight tips for parents with children who may be bullying or intimidating others.

Tips for parents whose child may be bullying

Supervise them closely when they are with other children

Explain what bullying is, and why it isn't acceptable

Talk to your child about how the bullying affects others. The goal is to help them understand how the other child might feel: "How would you feel if you were feeling bullied?"

Ask them what they think might help them stop bullying

Show them how to play and interact with other kids in a friendly way.

Make clear rules and consequences. Once you lay down these rules, make sure you follow through.

Praise your children when they do play well with others

Find a group program that helps them manage their behaviour

Source: Australian Psychological Society

They range from explaining to them what bullying is, and why it isn't acceptable, through to finding a program to help manage their behaviour.

Bullying behaviour in children can grow out of family issues, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, but it also emphasised that not all bullies come from broken homes or unhappy families.

Research from 2008 says they also come from loving, accepting and nurturing family environments.

The AIFS also found that sometimes the behaviour is inspired by other kids who act as co-bullies, supporters, or even an audience.

It also found that children who came from families where they suffer harsh punishment are more likely to bully others.

But maybe confusingly, children who believe their parents are figures of authority — but who are also very support of them — are less likely to bully.

Child therapist Jonothon McLoughlin said while children learnt a lot of their behaviour from their parents, they could be influenced from elsewhere too.

"We learn from parents, we learn from schools, we learn from media. We learn from a lot of influencing factors and they all play a part," Mr McLoughlin said.

In some places, parents are offered anti-bullying training too which helps them to better work with their children.

Can I protect my child if they're being bullied?

If your child is being bullied:

Make clear rules and consistent consequences for all children

Praise kids when they play well together

Teach them that telling a trusted person about the bullying is OK

Help them stand up for themselves

Work with them on their social skills

Source: Australian Psychological Society

Not always, but you can help them.

Part of the school environment, rightly or wrongly, is going to involve some tough interactions.

If your child has been teased, taunted or bullied, how do you help your child?

Part of it is sharing the pain with your child and letting them know that you hear them, and if they reacted the right way — they walked away and told a teacher for example — then thank them for that.

"First acknowledge the feelings whether sad, angry, disappointed. Acknowledge they have those emotions. Yes you're feeling those emotions," he said.

"If they were being bullied and they walked away, praise them for that response."

Psychologists from the APS also suggests helping a child stand up for themselves.

Where can I go for more help?

See your GP.

The APS says when bullying is so severe that it requires treatment, there are three main prongs.

Firstly, talk about how much the bullying has affected and maybe even humiliated the child.

Secondly, deal with what happened and thirdly try to make sense of what happened — similarly to how anyone who suffers trauma should be managed.

Parents can help their children find treatment by going to a GP and asking for a referral to a psychologist or another expert on helping children — some services may offer bulk billing or a Medicare rebate.